Toy carrying personal article or articles

ABSTRACT

A stuffed animal having a body with front and back sides, transport structure carried by the animal at the back side thereof, the structure defining a holding zone, and an insertible personal article or device carried by the structure at the holding zone, and being easily retrievable from the zone.

This application is a continuation-in-part of pending U.S. applicationSer. No. 11/725,219, filed Mar. 19, 2007, which is acontinuation-in-part of pending U.S. application serial 11/499,448,filed Aug. 7, 2006.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to concealed storage of small personalarticles, in unobvious ways while enabling rapid retrieval of sucharticles as from stuffed animals.

There is need for such article concealed storage, as in ways thatprevent loss of the small articles. There is also need for suchconcealed storage in unobvious ways, contributing to enablement of rapidretrieval of one or more small personal articles from storage as fromdecorative “friendly” and unlikely locations, such as stuffed animals.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is a major object of the invention to provide a device meeting theabove article storage needs. Basically, the invention comprises:

a) a stuffed animal having a body with front and back sides,

b) transport structure carried or to be carried by the animal at saidback side thereof,

c) said structure defining a holding zone,

d) and an insertible personal article or device carried by saidstructure at said holding zone, and being easily retrievable from saidzone.

As will be seen the article holding zone may comprise a concealed pocketexternal to the back side of the stuffed animal, or to clothing appliedto the stuffed animal, for rapid and convenient access to the storedarticle. The pocket may be on a carrier external to the animal backside, or external to such clothing, and a second concealed pocket may beprovided interiorly of the stuffed animal, that second pocket having aconcealed entrance. Such concealment may be provided by the externalholding zone, as referred to, at the back side of the animal, or may beprovided by animal clothing such as a robe, whereby multiple personalarticles may be stored in concealed relation to or by the stuffedanimal, while being readily accessible for selective rapid retrieval asneeded.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention, as well as thedetails of an illustrative embodiment, will be more fully understoodfrom the following specification and drawings, in which:

DRAWING DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a decorative stuffed animal, suchas Teddy Bear, wearing a robe;

FIG. 2 is a rear elevational view of the FIG. 1 animal;

FIG. 3 is a left side view of the FIG. 1 animal, and also showing arecess in the body extending downwardly and forwardly from an entrance;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view showing reception of an elongated insert inthe animal body recess, and to be accessible after removal of clothing,as also shown;

FIG. 5 is a section showing a modification;

FIG. 6 is a vertical section taken through a Teddy Bear body and backregion showing devices carried within the body or at the rear of thebody;

FIG. 7 is a vertical section like that of FIG. 6 showing a single devicecarried at the rear of a robe on the body;

FIG. 8 is a vertical section like FIG. 7, showing a single devicecarried at the rear of the body; and

FIGS. 9-13 show modifications.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the drawings, showing a preferred form of the invention, a stuffedanimal 10 having the form of a decorative Teddy Bear, has a body 11,arms 12, head 13 and legs 14. The animal is shown wearing a decorativerobe 15, having front sections 16 a and 16 b, a rear or back 17 andsleeves 18 which closely fit the animal arms 12. Also shown is a belt19.

In accordance with the invention, a recess 20 is formed in the body 11,and has an entrance 20 a at the upper back 11 a of the body. The recessextends downwardly and forwardly of the entrance, whereby the recess iselongated, i.e. typically has greater length than the front to backdimension X of the body to accommodate to both the finger and thumb of aperson seeking to retrieve 22. This allows for reception in the recessof an elongated insert 22. The recess may instead be laterallyelongated. Insert 22 may comprise a massager or lipstick or otherpersonal device. It may have a wall 30 and end 31. The insert may have aremovable battery or battery compartment. The clothing layer 15 a (suchas the back of the robe) covers the entrance, whereby the insert is notaccessible until the robe is removed off the upper back region of thestuffed animal. The close fit of the robe sleeves 18 to the stuffed arms12, inhibits ready removal of the robe, whereby concealment of theentrance/orifice 20 a is doubly enhanced to the extent that the robeback layer conceals the entrance, and also removal of that layer awayfrom entrance 15 a is inhibited by tightness of sleeve fit to the arms.

Assuming that a curious person gained access to the entrance/orifice 15a, he or she will then be able to grasp the insert, to pull theelongated insert out from the recess, for use. The insert may comprisevarious devices such as a lipstick container, or an electric batterypowered massager, the length of the insert providing space for dry cellreception in the insert. See battery outline 30, and massager headoutline 31.

FIG. 5 shows retention of a device, such as at 22, to and at thebackside of robe 17. Retention may be achieved in different ways. Oneway is by a pocket 40 attached to the rear side of layer 15, or roberear panel 15.

The insert may comprise a metallic or plastic tube containing a massagerand an electric current storage battery. Alternatively, the tube maycontain a lipstick, or other personal device.

Referring now to FIG. 6, it shows certain elements as also seen in FIGS.4 and 5, and bearing corresponding identifying numerals.

A clothing panel 200, such as the back of a robe, extends downwardly atthe back side of the Teddy Bear (or other stuffed animal)-body 202. Theupper entrance 20 a of the cavity 20 is concealed by the panel 200, orby animal fur, and may be widened to pass selected articles or devices.

Transport structure 204 is provided to be carried by the stuffed animalat the back side of its body 202, and also at the back side of clothingpanel 200, such structure defining a device holding zone, as at 205.Structure 204 may for example take the form of a back pack, having adownward extending receptacle 204 a bounded by front wall 204 b, rearwall 204 c, and upright side walls 204 d. A back pack flexible coverpanel 207 hangs downwardly over upper entrance 208 to the holding zone205, and a device such as insert 209 is downwardly received via entrance208 into zone 205. Attachment means, such as straps 210, support theback pack 204, and may extend over the Teddy Bear's shoulders.

Accordingly, FIG. 6 represents a Teddy Bear carrying and/or transportingtwo personal devices to which the user or Teddy Bear owner can quicklygain access, as needed. Representative such devices include massagers,lipsticks, small LED flashlights, perfume, sachet, and lingerie. At thesame time, the devices are concealed in a manner which allows provisionof an attractive Teddy Bear or other stuffed animal whose extendedutility is surprisingly well concealed. Device 22 is concealed, whetheror not back pack 204 is in place or removed.

FIG. 7 is like FIG. 6 excepting for the removal of elements of thecavity in the body of the stuffed animal. The clothing panel 200remains, as does the device transport structure 204.

FIG. 8 is like FIG. 7, excepting for removal of the elements of theclothing panel 200. A magnet 220 may be incorporated in the body of thestuffed animal to magnetically attract and hold the device or insert 209a in position in the back pack, the back pack itself thereby beingmagnetically held close to the back of the bear body. Device or insert209 a, or its housing, may then be made in part of steel or othermagnetically attracting material.

In the above, FIG. 7 is preferred.

In FIG. 9, a transport structure such as a pouch 300 is carried at therear side of the body 305 of a stuffed animal 301, such as a Teddy Bear.The pouch retrievably contains a personal article (such as, for example,a massager or lipstick 302, or clothing) and has one upper entrance 303,which may be gathered as at 304, to be closed. The pouch may bedetachably carried as at 306, and such carriage may be defined by hookand loop means. The latter may comprise interengaged, but separableVELCRO strips 307 and 308 on the rear side of the body 305 and on thepanel 309 of the pouch, or other structure associated with the pouch.

The pouch 300 is representative of an external holding zone, for storageof retrievable items such as any of the following:

-   -   X₁) a portable media player, such as an i-pod,    -   X₂) lingerie,    -   X₃) perfume,    -   X₄) cosmetics,    -   X₅) prophylactics,    -   X₆) jewelry.

Optionally provided are elements 22, 20 a, 30 and 31, as are also shownin FIG. 6. The toy animal may have fur 311. Entrance 20 a is concealedby pouch 300.

FIGS. 10 and 11 show the front and rear sides 251 and 252 of a TeddyBear 250 wearing a robe 253 having a wide collar 254. The pocket in thebody 255 of the bear, or carried by the robe, is indicated by brokenlines 256. The pocket entrance is designated by horizontal or lateralline 256 a. Collar 254 normally extends over line 256 a to conceal thatentrance. The collar is foldable upwardly to reveal the wide entrance,allowing entry of the user's forefinger and thumb to grasp the personalarticle or device 258 in the pocket. Accordingly, removal of the robe isnot necessary to allow retrieval of the article. The pocket may be wideenough and large enough to pass items (for storage) such as lingerie,jewelry, a sachet, mementos, contraceptives, prophylactics, massager,etc.

FIGS. 12 and 13 show the front and rear sides 261 and 262 of a TeddyBear wearing a jacket 263 having a narrow collar 264. The pocket in thebody 265 of that bear or carried by the jacket is indicated by brokenlines 266. The pocket upper, wide, horizontal entrance is designated bybroken line 266 a. Collar 264 normally extends over line 264 a toconceal that entrance. The collar at the back side of the bear's neck isfoldable upwardly to conceal wide entrance 266 a allowing entrance ofthe user's forefingers and thumb to grasp the article, shown as jewelry268, in the pocket. Removal of the jacket is therefore not necessary topermit article removal. Various articles as referred to in FIGS. 10 and11, can be concealed in or adjacent to the body of the bear, and beeasily retrieved.

1. In combination a) a stuffed animal having a body with front and backsides, b) transport structure carried by the animal at said back sidethereof, c) said structure defining a holding zone, d) and an insertiblepersonal article or device carried by said structure at said holdingzone, and being easily retrievable from said zone.
 2. The combination ofclaim 1 wherein said transport structure includes a pocket.
 3. Thecombination of claim 2 wherein said transport structure is associatedwith clothing applied to the animal.
 4. The combination of claim 2wherein said transport structure is associated with a back pack fittedto the animal.
 5. The combination of claim 1 including e) arecess/cavity in the animal, with an entrance at said back side andforwardly of said transport structure, f) and an insert in saidrecess/cavity.
 6. The combination of claim 5 including clothing appliedto the animal and extending over said entrance.
 7. The combination ofclaim 1 wherein said device is one of the following: X₁) a massager, X₂)a lipstick.
 8. The combination of claim 1 including said personalarticle is carried by said body to be concealed.
 9. The combination ofclaim 4 including said personal article concealed by said back pack. 10.The combination of claim 9 including a clothing panel extending betweensaid personal article and said body.
 11. The combination of claim 3wherein said clothing is retained on the animal at its front and backsides.
 12. The combination of claim 11 wherein said clothing defines arobe.
 13. The combination of claim 3 wherein said device is elongated.14. The combination of claim 13 wherein the insert includes a housingand an electric battery in the housing for driving a massager/vibratingdevice.
 15. The combination of claim 13 wherein the recess is elongatedto extend downwardly and forwardly in said stuffed body.
 16. Thecombination of claim 14 wherein said massager is accessible upon entryof user's thumb and forefinger into the entrance, after partial removalof said clothing.
 17. The combination of claim 16 wherein said clothingdefines a robe covering said recess entrance.
 18. The combination ofclaim 13 wherein the insert includes a housing, and lipstick in thehousing.
 19. The combination of claim 17 wherein the robe has armsections tightly fitting the animal stuffed arms to frictionally resistremoval.
 20. The combination of claim 1 wherein the stuffed animal is aTeddy Bear.
 21. The combination of claim 6 wherein the stuffed animal isa Teddy Bear.
 22. The combination of claim 1 including clothing on theanimal body and extending at the rear of said body, said transportstructure directly carried by said clothing.
 23. The combination ofclaim 22 wherein said clothing comprises a robe, the transport structureextending at one of the following: i) the outer side of the robe, ii)the inner side of the robe.
 24. The combination of claim 23 wherein thetransport structure comprises a pocket defining said holding zone. 25.For combination with a stuffed animal having a body with front and backsides, i) transport structure configured relative to said body to beclosely carried by the animal at said back side thereof, ii) saidstructure defining a holding zone, iii) and a personal article or deviceinserted in and carried by said structure at said holding zone, andbeing easily retrievable from said zone.
 26. The structure of claim 25,including one of the following adjacent said transport structure, iv) apanel to extend proximate the animal back side, v) a clothing panelshaped to extend proximate the animal back side, vi) a robe panel shapedto closely extend proximate the animal back side, vii) a panelconfigured to extend proximate the animal back side, said panel carryingsaid transport structure.
 27. The structure of claim 26 wherein saidtransport structure defines a pocket removably receiving said personalarticle or device.
 28. The combination of claim 2 wherein the pocket hasa wide generally horizontal upper entrance, there being a foldableportion of animal clothing extending over that entrance to concealaccess to the pocket.
 29. The combination of claim 28 wherein the upperentrance extends substantially linearly, proximate a neck region definedby the animal, said clothing portion defining a collar.
 30. Thecombination of claim 1 wherein said article comprises one of thefollowing: X₁) a portable media player, such as an i-pod, X₂) lingerie,X₃) perfume, X₄) cosmetics, X₅) prophylactics, X₆) jewelry.